Curtain-cabinet



(No Model.) P H YAWMAN 2 SheetsSheet 1.

CURTAIN G'ABINBT.

No. 556,394 Patented Mar. 17,1896.

(No Model.) w 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. H. YAWMAN.

CURTAIN GABINET.

No. 556,394. Patented Mar. 17,1896.

5 fl/////////////////////y/////////// AMIREW B GIANAM PHOTO'UTHO WASHINBTBNYDC UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP ll. YAlVMAN, OF ROCHESTER, NIUV YORK.

CURTAIN-CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,394, dated March 17, 1896. Application filed July 18, 1895. Serial No. 556,395. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP II. YAWMAN, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Cabinets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-letters marked thereon.

My present invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of the flexible curtains adapted for use on cabinets, bookcases, &c., and the means for counterbalancin g the same, enabling the curtains to be moved with but a slight expenditure of force and insuring their being kept in any position to which they may be adjusted, and the invention consists in certain improvements whereby the above objects may be accomplished and a simple and cheap device produced.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a bookcase or cabinet constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of the same; Fig. 3, a detail showing the construction of the curtain; Fig. 5 a cross-sectional view on the line or x of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a horizontal sectional view on the line Q/ 11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a side eleva tion of the curtain-counterbalancing mech anism on the line .2 of Fig. a, looking toward the right; Fig. 7, a view of a modification; Fig. 8, an end view of the curtain-sections.

Similar reference-letters indicate similar parts.

My invention is illustrated in connection with a form of cabinet or case A, preferably of sheet metal, and having the shelves B for the reception of books, document-files, &c., the exterior of said case being finished in any preferred way.

The fiexible curtain in. the present instance is adapted to slide in guideways c o c at the front and rear of the casing and extending over the top thereof, the guides being formed of suitably-grooved plates 0 secured to the sides of the casing, in which the ends of the curtain travel.

The curtain itself, which forms a portion of my present invention, is constructed as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, and is made up of a series of connected sections, formed of sheet metal, with their edges arranged to interlock by a relative endwise movement, while they may turn or pivot upon each other in a lateral plane, thereby rendering them flexible, so as to move in curved guides, and I preferably provide intermediate the interlocking edges engaging projections or recesses with which suitably-formed wheels connected to the counterbalancing devices may co-operate.

I-prefer to make the flexible curtain of two series of co-operating sections, one section (indicated by D) having at each end a male bead or roll (1, formed by turning the edges toward the center, and an intermediate channel or recess d on the rear face, the front being formed into a rib, shown, and construct the other section, E, with the central channel or groove 6, forming a rib on the outer side, and the outwardly-extol]ding female rolls or beads 2, preferably larger than the beads (Z, on the other section. hen the sections are put together the beads (Z will fit within the beads c on the other section, the ends of the beads (Z projecting far enough beneath the beads c to prevent disengagement by outward movement, but permitting the turning of one section upon the other when they are moved around in a curve, as shown in Figs. 2 and The relative longitudinal movement of the sections of the curtain may be prevented by forming lugs c on the ends of the sections E to engage the ends of the other section, as shown in Fig. t, but this is not essential, as the guides in which the curtain operates will prevent any such movement. I prefer to provide one of the grooved guideways O on the casing or cabinet with a removable sec tion 0, as shown in Fig. 1, so if it should be necessary at any time to insert or remove sections of the curtain to lengthen or shorten it, or replace a damaged section, it may be accomplished by removing the section 0, sliding a curtain-section out through the aperture and securing the next adjacent ones together or inserting anew one, if desired.

The lower front end of the curtain is provided with a slide or bar F, to which operating-handles F are attached for moving the curtain, and in order that the weight of the latter may be counterbalanced at all times, no matter whether closed over the front of the cabinet or otherwise and provide for operating easily, I provide a counterbalancing device in the form of a spring, or its equivalent, a weight operated upon by the curtain in such a way that when the latter is in its midway position, or one-half is in the vertical guideways on each side of its support, said counterbalancin g device will be inoperative, but if the curtain is moved in either direction the counterbalance will operate to equalize the weight thrown over the center and render the movement of the curtain easy.

It is desirable that the counterbalance, of any description, be so arranged that it will occupy but very small space, embody direct connections and but few parts, and with these objects in View I prefer to locate the device in the portion of the casing above the shelves or receptacles, and between the vertical guideways, where the curtain moves from one side of the casing to the other, as shown in the drawings, and the recesses e in the curtain are therefore arranged to engage with teeth formed upon wheels G, which latter are arranged upon the ends of a transverse shaft I-I supported in suitable gudgeons II in the sides of the casing at the top, said wheels being arranged close to the sides of the casing, and as the sides of the curtain run in the guides O a firm hearing will be had and any motion of the curtain will be communicated to the shaft through the wheels. Attached to this shaft is a pulley J, to which is pivoted by a swiveled bolt j one end of a flexible strap K, preferably of metal, and attached at one end to a drum L secured to an arbor L, to which is attached one end of a spring M, the other end of the spring being attached to a casing M containing it and supported upon a shelf B at the top of the cabinet. Projecting forward from the casing M is an arm M having a half-bearing partially embracing the shaft for preventing the tension of the spring from bending or springing the shaft laterally.

When the curtain is in midway position, half being in each vertical guideway, the pulleys will be in the position shown in Fig. 6, the spring drawing the strap directly on the center and having no tendency to rotate the shaft H. \Vhen the curtain is moved from the midway position up or down the strap will be wound on the pulley J against the tension of the spring, and it will operate to counterbalance the curtain properly. Asthe connec tion between the strap and the pulley J is a pivotal one, it will be seen that the curtain may be moved in either direction, while the spring-drum will be operated only one Way. This means for acting on the pulleys, actuated by the movement of the curtain, is preferable where the curtain moves over the top of the casing, but it sometimes happens that it is desirable that the curtain should move up from the bottom at the front, and although the spring-drum could be employed at the bottom, as will be seen by reversing Fig. 2, in some instances I prefer to arrange upon the shaft II a small pinion h meshing with a gearsegment h pivoted at 71 at one side of the cabinet casing, said segment having upwardly-extending arms 713, to which a weight k is pivoted at h, a strap 7L6 serving merely as a guide for said Weight.

hen the curtain is at its midway position the parts are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7, the weight being directly over the shaft H, but when the curtain is moved so that there is a preponderance of weight upon one side or the other the weight will be moved to the opposite side of the center, as shown in dotted lines, thereby effectually counterbalancing the curtain and providing for its easy movement in its guides.

The construction shown in Fig. 7 is clearly a modification of the other arrangement, broadly speaking, though I do not wish to claim it specifically herein, reserving it for another application for Letters Patent about to be filed.

This curtain and counterbalancing device are easily and cheaply constructed, the parts of the curtain-sections being formed of rolled steel plates, while the parts are simple, and

d e the full length of the curtain-sections, as

they stiffen them materially and present a more uniform appearance from the front, the main functions of said ribs would be accomplished if they were only large enough for the engagement of the teeth 011 the wheels of the counterbalancing device, whether two wheels were employed, one at each end, or one wheel in the center.

The shaft and the gear-wheels meshing with the curtain serve to keep the curtain in proper alignment and prevent binding in the guides and are a valuable feature of construction, even if the counterbalancing device is dispensed with or counterbalancing devices of other construction be employed.

If desired, the gearing and counterbalancing devices could be arranged outside of the curtain above the upper guideway, the gears then being so shaped as to engage the outside of the ribs (1 e, but the arrangement shown is vastly preferable, as I am enabled to utilize what would otherwise be waste space and do not increase the dimension-s of the casing from what they would be if no counterbalancing device were employed. This is a valuable feature, as economy of space, in places where cabinets with metallic curtains are employed, is of prime importance.

Ready access can be had to the counterbalancing, device when desired by removing the bottom slat F of the curtain and sliding the a curtain back until the edge is above the top supporting-plate B, and the spring can be tightened or removed by manipulating the hand-wheel L loosening for the purpose the screw it, which fastens drum L to the arbor, as in Fig. 5.

This curtain and counterbalancing device could, of course, be used for other purposes than as a cabinet or casing for books, documents, (K30.

I claim as my invention 1. A flexible curtain composed of separate sections interlocking at their proximate edges, each section having an engaging portion intermediate said edges, in combination with a wheel cooperating with said engaging portion and rotated by the movement of the curtain, substantially as described.

2. A flexible curtain composed of separate sections interlocking at their proximate edges, each section having an engaging portion i11- tcrmediate said edges, in combination with guides for the curtain, and two connected wheels co-operating with the engaging portions of the curtain-sections near opposite ends thereof,whereby the curtain will be properly guided, substantially as described.

A flexible curtain composed of separate sections interlocking at their proximate edges, each section having an engaging portion intermediate said edges, in combination with guides for the curtain, a wheel co-operating with the engaging portions of the curtain and moving with the latter, and a centering device connected to the wheel operating to counterbalance the curtain, substantially as described.

1 The flexible curtain composed of separate sheet-metal sections engaged at their edges by male and female beads and each section having the longitudinal rib intermedi ate the engaging beads, substantially as described.

5. A flexible curtain composed of the sections D, having the beads 61, and rib d, and the sections E, having the beads e, and rib (2 arranged and operating substantially as described.

G. The combination with a casing having vertical guideways at front and rear and a guideway at one end, of a flexible curtain operating in said guid eways, a wheel directly engaging the curtain, a counterbalancing device connected to the wheel and operating through it upon the curtain arranged to rotate said wheel in either direction depending upon the distribution of the weight of the curtain in the vertical guideways, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a casing having vertical guideways at front and rear, and a guideway at one end, of the flexible curtain, the wheel and co-operating projections and recesses between it and the curtain, causing theirsimultaneous operation, the pulley, the strap connected thereto by a reversible connection, and a tension device for pulling said strap, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a casing having vertical guideways at front and rear and a guideway at one end, of the flexible curtain, wheels engaging the curtain near opposite sides,the shaft on which the wheels are mounted, and a counterbalancing device operating upon said shaft to counterbalance the weight of the curtain in the front or rear guides, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a casing having vertical guideways at front and rear, and a guideway at one end, of the flexible curtain, wheels engaging the curtain near opposite sides,the shaft on which the wheels are mounted, and the pulley thereon, the strap swiveled to the pulley, and the spring connected to the strap, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a casing having vertical guideways at front and rear and. at one end, of the flexible curtain operating in the guideways, and a counterbalancing device engaging the curtain located between the front and rear guideways and in proximity to the guideway at the end of the casing, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a casing having the vertical front and rear guideways and the guideway at the upper end connecting them, of the flexible curtain operating in said guideways, a wheel engaging the curtain between the vertical guideways, and the counterbalancing device connected to said wheel substantially as described.

12. The combination with a casing having the vertical front and rear guideways and the guideway at the upper end connecting them, of the flexible curtain operating in said guideways, a reversible spring counterbalancing device located beneath the upper guideway and engaging the curtain between the vertical guideways, substantially as described.

1-3. The combination with a casing having the vertical front and rear guideways, and the guideway at the end connecting them, of the flexible curtain, the two wheels engaging the curtain between the vertical guideways, the shaft, and the pulley, the strap swiveled to the pulley, and the spring connected to the strap, all said parts being located between the vertical guideways and inside the end guideway, substantially as described.

14. The combination with the casin g having vertical front and rear guideways and the guideway at the end connecting them, of the flexible curtain, the wheels engaging it intermediate the vertical guideways, the shaft supported at its ends, and the pulley thereon, the strap swiveled to the pulley the drum and the spring for operating it, and the support for the spring and drum having the bearing-arm engaging the sh aft,substantially as described.

PHILIP 11'. YAWMAN. lVit-nesses:

F. F. CHURCH, M. Wrnsxnn.

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